2014 Volnay Carelles
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Tasting notes
(100% destemmed): Bright medium red. Subdued on the nose but clearly darker than the Caillerets, conveying fresh, higher-pitched aromas of black cherry, violet and licorice. This wine's sweetness and richness give it lovely early appeal. Generous on the front half but then distinctly more linear on the back end, finishing with a firm spine of tannins and a lingering redcurrant suggestion of red soil. Bouley noted that these vines were hit hard by hail but today it's the wine's sweetness that stands out, rather than any dryness.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Smudgy crimson. A bit mossy on the nose. Sweet fruit at first but pretty tough and drying on the finish. Not much fun! (JR)
The 2014 Volnay 1er Cru les Carelles, which was completely destemmed (unlike the forthcoming 2015), has a more voluminous bouquet than the 2014 les Caillerets with plenty of wild strawberry, raspberry and dried herb scents that gain intensity with aeration in the glass. The palate is lively and animated with slightly chalky tannin, a very taut line of acidity (even though analytically it has a high pH!), with great structure and poise on the finish. This is a very sophisticated les Carelles, one surfeit with mineral tension and nervosite. This is just superb. Dec 2015, www.robertparker.com